COVINA – Northview High School had its three-year reign atop the Valle Vista League boys basketball standings end last season.

The Vikings look like a good bet to reclaim their lost throne so far this year.

Junior Treavon Francis scored 22 points, including 18 in the second half, and senior Brian Johnson had 19 as host Northview took early control of the league race with a 66-57 victory over Nogales on Friday.

The Vikings, also getting 15 points from Nick Fuentes, improved to 17-3 overall and 5-0 in league. The Nobles, getting 24 points from Ray Santos, slipped to 9-10 and 2-2.

“Our league is so competitive that every win is big,” said Northview coach Ron Rice, whose Vikings host second-place Baldwin Park next Friday. “Right now, we’re 5-0, but each and every game is a battle.

“Pomona doesn’t have a win, and they battled us hard. Every game we have to come to play, but it’s nice to be 5-0 and on top.”

Northview is there after overcoming a sluggish start on Friday. Nogales, also getting 13 points from James Santiago, made four of its first five shots and jumped on the Vikings early, taking a 16-4 lead off a couple 3-pointers by Santos in the first quarter.

“I think we jumped out on them and kind of punched them in the mouth,” Nogales coach Tony Depa said. “I don’t think they were expecting that, and then they just settled in.

“They are obviously pretty good at home. Our offense was fine. We just fell behind on defense. But they have three pretty good players (Francis, Johnson and Fuentes).”

Fuentes got Northview back into it, keying a 14-5 run with a pair of layups and a 3-pointer that made it 29-28 with 3:11 left in the first half.

Francis took the reins in the second, scoring seven points to key a 12-5 run over the final four minutes of the third quarter for a 48-46 lead.

The junior followed a 3-pointer by Johnson with a driving layup to make it 43-41 at 3:05 before converting a three-point play at 2:15 for a 44-43 lead.

Fuentes and Francis followed with back-to-back layups for a 48-46 lead after three quarters.

Francis then scored 11 in the fourth quarter as Northview used a 10-2 run to take a 63-55 lead with 1:46 left.

“There’s always those runs in there and it’s just a matter of hanging in there and waiting for yours,” Rice said. “We picked it up defensively and Tre hit a couple of big shots. We kept plugging away and got it done at the end.”

Steve Ramirez writes about public safety issues including criminal justice and fires in Inland Southern California. He previously covered high schools, college football and motor sports for the San Gabriel Valley Tribune since 1989. He's a big fan of Buddy Holly and loves World War II movies.